Location:
Theater:
Date:
Type:
Dialogue and speeches.
"Americanism."
A cast of three men in a playlet, entitled "Americanism," in which Dan Masn and Theodore Babcock are assisted by a dandy juvenile, just misses because it is too late. The story concerns the marrying of the son of a former German, who tries to have him evade the draft through being a married man and the father of the girl. The father of the boy is played by Babcock, and he gives a splendid account of a thankless part. The boy has many sure-fire speeches and works them well up to a climax. The father of the girl, with a German dialect, is played by Mason. The girl's father was born in Germany, but wants to fight the Kaiser and German militarism from a personal experience he had with some of the German troops. At the finish the boy enlists in Uncle Sam's forces, is disowned and patted on the back by the girl's father. The action is slow and the speeches by Mason as to why he loves America are long-winded, but sure-fire for applause. The comedy is furnished by Mason, who at times handles the situations in a burlesque manner and when trying pathos fails. The arguments for and against loyalty would have been all right a year ago, but not now. The war is over and "Americanism" is now ancient history.
Source:
Variety, 53:8 (01/17/1919)